The Dallas Stars and Vegas Golden Knights are in a tight contest against each other in the Stanley Cup playoffs. Pete DeBoer and Bruce Cassidy are locked in a battle of wits, with Vegas's past meeting the franchise's present (and future). Logan Thompson is having an electric playoff round, allowing 2.35 goals per game and yielding a save percentage of .921. Life is good for the netminder, for he's keeping his team afloat.
But things suddenly turned when Cassidy replaced him with Adin Hill in Game 5. The move was head-scratching for Golden Knights fans, for the problem wasn't in the net. It was the lack of offense, where names like Mark Stone only had one goal in the first four games. While the head coach did shuffle his lineup around to provide an offensive spark, it didn't help much as the Stars eliminated the Golden Knights in seven games.
As for Hill? He was actually more impressive, sporting a GAA of 1.70 and a save percentage of .931 in three games. Eventually, Thompson left town and was traded to the Washington Capitals. It ushered in the era of Hill as he's officially the Golden Knights's starting goaltender for 2024-25. But that raises questions about logical decisions. Everyone wants to know the secret to achieving this. So what does it take to make the right one?
What Vegas Golden Knights fans can learn from Bruce Cassidy's decision to suddenly start Adin Hill
Bruce Cassidy isn't afraid to shake up a lineup for more production. That includes breaking up the "MIsfit" line of Reilly Smith, William Karlsson, and Jonathan Marchessault and shifting to Adin Hill in net. However, his decisions are based in a few factors, starting with his confidence in making the right decision.
For Cassidy, he knew Hill had the necessary playoff experience to handle the Dallas Stars. That meant learning from what he did in past playoff performances, including his Stanley Cup-clinching season. Here, he allowed 2.17 goals per game and had a save percentage of .932. Although the Golden Knights lost to the Stars, Hill did his job and was solid.
Cassidy also draws from that past experience by using statistics to drive such decisions. Would he have switched Thompson out if Hill allowed a 2.75 GAA in the 2023 Stanley Cup playoffs? Or would he have stuck with his other option? It's an interesting question, especially since Vegas couldn't match Pete DeBoer's and Dallas's energy.
It takes an experienced coach confident in his decisions to inspire his fanbase. Perhaps you're looking for a new job and need something that pays better. Or maybe you're deciding on where to go for your next date? Learn from Cassidy and put a plan into motion because having a concept of a plan can only get you so far. Just ask the Arizona Coyotes how that went.